HASLINGDEN celebrated victory last night in the first ever day-night floodlit cricket match in the Lancashire League.

But the Bentgate side will not take their place in Friday's final - because the team are going away for the night.

Rawtenstall, beaten by 18 runs at their Worswick Memorial Ground last night, will play the winners of tonight's semi-final - which is a repeat of the Worsley Cup final between Ramsbottom and Bacup - in the final on Friday.

Hundreds turned out to witness the historic first floodlit game, and club officials are hoping for more of the same tonight and on Friday.

Rawtenstall chairman Brian Payne said the night had been a huge success.

"It was a really good night, a good crowd and a brilliant atmosphere," he said. "Everyone I spoke to around the ground said what a tremendous night it was.

"We would definitely like to do it again. The idea was to raise some much-needed finance for the club and we have done that on the first night.

"Loads of people were good enough to sponsor the lights: Living Rooms, Martin Griffin and Dave Cook-Martin, whose idea it was in the first place.

"And the Haslingden chairman, Geoff Lord, provided a cup.

"At first I thought we'd never be able to afford the lights but with the sponsors' help it has proved very worthwhile."

Rawtenstall professional Matthew Mott said it was a fantastic experience for the players who had never played under floodlights before.

"It is a real cliche but cricket really was the winner tonight," he said after the game.

"The crowd got everything they asked for, the bad weather stayed off and there was a pretty good atmosphere out there.

"The game was played in a good spirit. It would have been nice to win though."

Aussie Mott, whose compatriot Mike Lewis, the opening bowler for Victoria, guest starred for Rawtenstall, said the atmosphere was 'electric'.

"Playing under floodlights is completely different. There are different climatic conditions. As the night sets in suddenly there is dew on the ground and something electric in the air.

"It was nice to see fans from other clubs here as well. There were a few here from Burnley and Lowerhouse and hopefully we'll see another big crowd for the game between Ramsbottom and Bacup."

Bacup are not planning to bring any guest players with them as all 11 of their first teamers were eager to play.

The game starts today at 4.30pm and will finish at around 10pm.

RAWTENSTALL 139 all out

HASLINGDEN 157 all out

HASLINGDEN

L Lord c Perren b Payne...14

M Griffin c Clough b Lewis...9

Austin lbw Lewis...24

M Ingham lbw Mott...18

P Blackledge run out...14

N Grindrod c Carter b Wood...14

A Smith c Payne b Clough...4

H Rishton run out...0

A Sidley b Greenwood...16

I Cameron b Riley...0

M Blomley not out...13

Extras...31

Total...157

Bowling: B Greenwood 6.5-0-41-1; A Payne 4-0-12-1; M Lewis 5-1-20-2; C Perren 4-1-9-0; A Clough 5-1-29-1; M Mott 4-1-10-1; R Wood 2-1-8-1; A Riley 1-0-1-1-; J Carter 3-0-15-0; C Cook-Martin 2-0-11-0.

RAWTENSTALL

C Cook-Martin lbw Sidley...20

Mott...28

A Clough run out...11

C Perren lbw Cameron...1

P Hanson lbw Blomley...1

R Wood c Grindrod b Blackledge...29

B Greenwood lbw Blackledge...20

M Lewis b Blackledge...2

A Riley not out...3

J Carter b Cameron...8

Extras...16

Total...139

Bowling: I Cameron 6.5-0-23-2; M Blomley 6-1-20-1; A Sidley 8-3-39-2; Austin 6-1-8-1; P Blackledge 8-0-31-3; N Grindrod 2-0-4-0.